January:
Happy New Year 2012! John and Trisha came over for a movie and treats and dominoes (I think?).
Some little girl made it all the way to the top of the stairs on her own!!
February:
We took a risk and ordered an umbrella stroller. She looked so big and old it when we were testing it out! (We've loved our purchase, by the way!)
I left her for the first time ever overnight to attend Laura's bachelorette party in Iowa City. It was a much different experience trying to fit in pumping sessions every 3 hours and keeping milk cold, but we all had a great time and it was fun to celebrate.
Not only a new big girl stroller, but a new big girl car seat?! This mama can only handle so much change!!
*smile
She was obsessed with her rings. Remember this post?
Daddy taught her how to go down the step face first. If I remember correctly, we only had one face plant. and then she quickly learned that it was easier and safer to go down feet first.
March:
We took our last bi-weekly picture. I think everyone was a bit relieved to have them over with. Ha. It was getting harder and harder to get her to sit there and not tear and eat the sign, but I'm so thankful we took them. It's so great seeing how she changed before our very eyes!
Our baby had to go turn ONE March 23rd. We had a "small" party with family and just felt so blessed.
Aunt Becca was able to come celebrate with us on Gwendolyn's actual birthday too! We went to Hastings for coffee and donuts and play time and had oh, so much fun. (Pretty sure it was this trip that convinced Becca she needed to move up to MN asap!)
My sister is a go getter. She comes to visit and what does she insist we do? Clean out our garage.
We went through a bunch of boxes and bags from my parents in record time. It's much easier to make decisions about what to keep and donate when you have another opinion! These were just a few of the animals/dolls that we decided to let go of, but not without a photo for memories sake first! They were all childhood favorites....*tear.
Then it was off to Miss Kathy's house for Gwendolyn very own cat-themed daycare party! It was a birthday celebration I'll never, ever, ever forget.
A few of her One Year pictures....
She did NOT want to have her feet touch the grass....
(also, can we talk about the fact that it's March...do you see what they're wearing?!)
April:
Luke Thomas Barntsen was born!!
He is one squishy, hilarious, adorable, loving baby boy and worth every day of Natalie being sick! (Easy for me to say.) Gwendolyn loves her Lukey Do.
Dressed in our Sunday best.
Practicing our walking skills...which very soon there after equated real steps!
Happy Easter 2012!
We played a lot of Ring Around the Rosy....(this picture also makes me so thankful we no longer have to have that awkward gate up!)
May:
She rarely lets you get too far away. She is always checkin' in, even to this day....
We had an absolute blast at the Woodbury Garage Sales and landed this castle for only $9! She still loves it!
We had beautiful spring weather and started the grilling out early. Tom also surprised me one afternoon he was home with Gwendolyn (no daycare) with beautiful hanging baskets. Our little courtyard brings us so much joy - we just love it!
Laura and Dan got married over Memorial Day weekend!
June:
Nathan David turned ONE!
We decided to give camping a try. Wowzers....camping is a lot of work! We had a great time with our friends from church, Dana and Rosa, but I'm thinking we may be waiting another couple years before we tackle tent set-up and fire-making and outdoor food-preparing on our own. Actually, I think we'll just always tag along with them. They camping pros and not to mention, awesome friends.
One downside though....it was HOT. Gwendolyn wasn't impressed.
We got a new bike trailer! Green, of course!
We took our first "business trip" and stayed in a hotel while I photographed a wedding. She loved enjoying the pool! (Her legs make me ajdf;jasdfjjsdjf whenever I look at them.)
We went and had a little photo shoot in downtown St. Paul....
(We had no idea how bald she was! It's amazing how much hair she's gotten in only 6 months. Woohoo!)
July:
Happy 4th of July! We celebrated at Greg and Natalie's and somebody got to enjoy her very own first ice cream cone. Life is GOOD!
She started picking up some slack around the house...
My dad took us kids on a Lake Michigan salmon fishing adventure - it was something else! Very cool.
Erin and I threw Trisha a bachelorette party complete with dinner and wine tasting overlooking the river and then gifts and games and an ice cream bar back at our place. Pink themed, of course!
August:
Oh man, I miss her summer wardrobe. It was so cute!
Talking on the phone to Grandma...
We took our annual cabin vacation with my family, but it just wasn't the same without the whole crew. Brent and Sara and family went out to New York to visit her brother and his family, and Mom and Dad were hanging out in the hospital while Mom recovered from Pneumonia. Not nearly as fun as being with family and bonfires and fishing! Thankfully, they made it up for the last half of the trip.
Beach side snack....
I put my two weeks in at Hallmark Business Connections the Monday we returned from vacation and haven't looked back since! I definitely miss my awesome coworkers though...here's jut a few of them after my good-bye lunch. (If any of you are reading...hope you're doing well!!)
Then it was off to Des Moines for a visit to the Iowa State Fair with my sister and Weston and to throw Celeste a baby shower. We thought she had a good month plus before baby arrived, but Jocelyn Ellen decided to come only days after the shower!
"Look, a puppy Mommy!"
OH and one more thing....we found out we were expecting #2 on my first day as a SAHM! We surprised daddy when he got home from work!
Gwendolyn wasn't so sure how she felt about it at first....(she's since come around. Mostly.)
September:
Trisha and John got married in a beautiful wedding ceremony here in Woodbury! (We love Uncle Don!)
And remember the 30th birthday celebration of all TIME where my sister and parents came to visit and surprised me and Tom planned so much outrageous fun?! Take me back!
Mom and Dad brought Gwendolyn a little gift as well...
Nikki, Jacob and Nathan brought me over coffee and donuts on my actual birthday - YUM! And then helped me locate my husband in an ER in St. Paul after he passed out on the bus and was taken by ambulance It was quite the morning.
It's my 30th birthday day!
Love this picture of her...
October:
Liz and her three kiddos came to visit. We packed a LOT into our days together!
We had our first appointment for the baby and celebrated with Gwendolyn's first Happy Meal (at least that we've bought for her....not sure what Papa and Mimi give her when we're not around *smile) at McDonald's.
Let me tell you what...this pregnant girl loves a good McDonald's cheeseburger. So delish.
Happy 5th Anniversary to us! Celebrating at IHOP...
Brent, Sara and the boys came to visit and we made a trip to the MN Zoo.
Best friends.
We traveled down to Ames for Iowa State's Homecoming and saw friends and enjoyed some time on our beautiful campus. Love this family picture!
Happy Halloween! Our little monkey was a very active participant this year, if you remember from this post!
November:
We stayed very busy collecting things. Per usual.
The Schwagers welcomed their third daughter, Ashlyn.
And Ceci got her little brother, Louie...
We celebrated Thanksgiving in Charles City and nailed a family picture with almost everyone looking at the camera.
December:
Gwendolyn got her first haircut and looked as adorable as ever.
We tried to wear as many of our Christmas dresses and outfits as possible while we could! (This dress actually came off before we even left for church...it was the first time she ever wanted something "off". Scratchy or just not a fan?)
(More from our fun holiday-packed December coming later.)
2012 was definitely a wonderful year. Just looking back through all these pictures and moments and memories makes me so grateful and thankful. It's amazing how you forget things as your child grows right before your very own eyes. It's good to take a step back every once in awhile and just take it all in. Last year at this time she was still just such a baby and now she's a walking, talking, running, counting, coloring, collecting, baby doll holding, singing, dancing machine! With HAIR! It's an undertaking, but I'm glad I take so many pictures and keep them all organized particularly for things like this!
I'm also so thankful I've been able to be home with her these last four months. I find myself brought to tears sometimes just thinking about how grateful I am that I don't have to run out the door in the morning and we can sit and snuggle and read books together if that's what she wants to do. It's been crazy busy with my business, don't get me wrong, but it's been a good transition and I feel blessed to be able to do my dream job. (Minus the invoicing and taxes.) God has met our needs far more than we were ever anticipating or hoping for. But isn't that just like Him....
I'm pumped for 2013. Here's to breaking bad habits and starting fresh and drawing closer to our Provider and Sustainer and Giver of Life and letting things go and growing and changing and always, always being grateful.
Happy New Year from the Barntsen family!
